Electric connector

ABSTRACT

An electric connector ( 2, 2 ′) having an insulating casing ( 4 ) defining a number of cavities for housing respective electric terminals and having axes parallel to a first direction (A) in which the connector ( 2, 2 ′) is coupled to a complementary connector ( 3 ); a slide ( 16 ) fitted to the casing ( 4 ) to slide in a second direction (B) perpendicular to the first direction (A), and having cam-type first engaging members ( 22 ) for receiving respective second engaging members ( 23 ) on the complementary connector ( 3 ) to produce a relative coupling movement of the connectors ( 2, 2′; 3 ) in the first direction (A) when the slide ( 16 ) is moved in the second direction (B) into a fully assembled position with respect to the casing ( 4 ); and retaining means ( 40, 41, 62 ) for keeping the slide ( 16 ) partly connected to the casing ( 4 ); the retaining means ( 40, 41, 62 ) being selectively deactivated when coupling the connector ( 2, 2 ′) to the complementary connector ( 3 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electric connector, andparticularly, though not exclusively, to an electric plug connectorwhich mates with a complementary electric socket connector to form amultiple-way electric connecting unit of the type used to connect anelectric system to an electronic central control unit.

BACKGROUND ART

Connecting units of the above type are known in which the connectorscomprise respective insulating casings defining respective numbers ofcavities for housing respective connectable male and female electricterminals.

Such units normally comprise a lever-and-slide coupling device, which isoperated manually when the plug and socket connectors are engaged tocouple the connectors with a minimum amount of effort.

The lever-and-slide coupling device substantially comprises a slidefitted to slide inside the plug connector casing in a directionperpendicular to the coupling direction of the connectors; and anactuating lever hinged to the plug connector casing and connected to theslide.

In a fairly common embodiment, the slide is C-shaped and defined by anend wall perpendicular to the sliding direction, and by two lateralwalls extending perpendicularly from respective opposite end edges ofthe end wall, and which slide along respective lateral walls of the plugconnector casing. Each lateral wall of the slide has a number of camgrooves for receiving respective external pins on the socket connector,and for producing a relative engaging movement of the plug and socketconnectors in the coupling direction when the slide is moved in thesliding direction.

The slide is normally retained, by releasable retaining means, e.g.click-on retaining members, in a preassembly position partly insertedinside the plug connector casing, and is moved into a fully insertedposition inside the casing by rotating the actuating lever from a raisedto a lowered position about its hinge axis.

To function properly, the releasable retaining means must be sized anddesigned to ensure a given load by which to retain the slide inside thecasing.

The load, however, may not be sufficient to prevent the slide from beinginserted accidentally inside the plug connector casing, in the event theplug connector is knocked, dropped, etc. before being coupled to thecomplementary connector. In which case, the slide must be reset to thepreassembly position before the connectors are coupled, thuscomplicating assembly of the connecting unit.

By way of a solution to the problem, the load exerted by the retainingmeans could be increased, though this would also mean a correspondingincrease in the force required on the actuating lever to couple theconnectors, thus impairing the function for which the lever-and-slidecoupling device was designed, i.e. to permit coupling of the connectorswith a minimum amount of effort.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electricconnector designed to provide a simple, reliable solution to theaforementioned drawbacks typically associated with known connectors.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electricconnector as claimed in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Two preferred, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view in perspective, with parts removed forclarity, of an electric connecting unit defined by an electric plugconnector in accordance with the present invention, and by acomplementary electric socket connector;

FIG. 2 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of a detail of the FIG.1 electric plug connector;

FIG. 3 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of a further detail ofthe FIG. 1 electric plug connector;

FIG. 4 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of a slide of the FIG. 1plug connector;

FIG. 5 shows a larger-scale side view of the FIG. 1 electric plugconnector in a different configuration;

FIG. 6 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of the FIG. 3 detail ofthe electric plug connector in the FIG. 5 configuration;

FIG. 7 shows a larger-scale section along line VII-VII in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a further embodiment of an electric plugconnector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of a detail of the FIG.8 electric plug connector;

FIG. 10 shows a cross section in perspective of the FIG. 9 detail.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates as a whole a multiple-way electricconnecting unit, in particular for connecting an electronic centralcontrol unit (not shown) to a vehicle electric system (not shown).

Unit 1 comprises a first plug connector 2 and a second socket connector3, which are coupled in a direction A.

Connector 2 according to the present invention comprises an insulatingcasing 4 made of plastic material and defining a number of cavities (notshown in the accompanying drawings) having axes parallel to direction Aand for housing respective known female electric terminals (not shown)retained in known manner inside the cavities and connected to respectiveknown electric cables (not shown).

Casing 4 comprises a hollow, substantially parallelepiped-shaped mainbody 6 defining an end opening 7 for the insertion of connector 3, andhousing a substantially parallelepiped-shaped block 8 for supporting thefemale terminals and in which said cavities are formed.

More specifically, main body 6 is defined by a front and rear end wall10 a, 10 b, and by two lateral walls 11 perpendicular to end walls 10 a,10 b and defining, with end walls 10 a, 10 b, opening 7 for receivingconnector 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, respective end portions 12 of lateral walls 11 ofmain body 6 project outwards of block 8 from end wall 10 b.

Casing 4 also comprises an outer shell 13 connected to main body 6 onthe opposite side to opening 7, and through which extend the electriccables connected to the female terminals carried by block 8.

Connector 3—described herein only as pertinent to the presentinvention—comprises a hollow, substantially parallelepiped-shapedinsulating casing 14 conveniently formed in one piece with the outercasing (not shown) of the electronic central control unit, and housing anumber of known male terminals (not shown) extending parallel todirection A and connected to respective known electric cables (notshown). Casing 14 defines a seat for receiving block 8 of connector 2,and in which project respective contact portions of the male terminals.

Unit 1 also comprises a lever-and-slide coupling device 15 by which tocouple connectors 2 and 3 with a minimum amount of effort.

Coupling device 15 comprises a slide 16 which is movable inside and withrespect to casing 4 in a direction B perpendicular to direction A and toend walls 10 a, 10 b of main body 6. Slide 16 (FIG. 4) is substantiallyC-shaped, and comprises an end wall 17 perpendicular to direction B; andtwo lateral walls 18 extending perpendicularly from respective oppositelateral edges of end wall 17 and parallel to directions A and B. Lateralwalls 18 of slide 16 extend through respective lateral end openings (notshown) in end wall 10 a, and slide between block 8 and respectiveopposite lateral walls 11 of main body 6 of casing 4. Main body 6, block8, and lateral walls 18 of slide 16 together define a seat for receivingcasing 14 of connector 3 and therefore defining a coupling region ofconnectors 2 and 3.

Each lateral wall 18 has a number of (in the example shown, three) camgrooves 22 (FIG. 4) which cooperate with respective external pins 23 oncasing 14 to produce a relative engaging movement of connectors 2 and 3in direction A when slide 16 is moved inwards of casing 4 in directionB. The form of grooves 22 is known from EP-A-363804, and is thereforeonly described briefly.

With reference to FIG. 4, each groove 22 comprises an inlet portion 25for respective pin 23, extending parallel to direction A and locatedclose to opening 7; an intermediate portion 26 sloping with respect todirections A and B; and an end portion 27 parallel to direction B anddefining a stop surface for pin 23. Grooves 22 of each lateral wall 18are open on the side facing the other lateral wall 18, and are closed onthe opposite side by an end surface 28; and, as shown in FIG. 4, the endsurface 28 of the intermediate groove 22 of each lateral wall 18 ofslide 16 defines, at inlet portion 25, a through opening 29 for thepurpose explained later on.

Coupling device 15 also comprises an actuating lever 30, which is hingedto casing 4 about an axis C perpendicular to directions A and B, andwhich engages lateral walls 18 of slide 16 so that rotation of lever 30about axis C moves slide 16 in direction B and, by virtue of pins 23engaging grooves 22, causes relative engagement of connectors 2 and 3and the respective terminals in direction A.

Layer 30 is defined by two contoured arms 31 having first end portions32 hinged about axis C on opposite outer sides of shell 13 of casing 4,and second end portions 33 joined by a cross member 34.

Each end portion 32 is cylindrical about axis C, and defines, on oneside of the span of relative arm 31, a toothed sector 35 defined, in theexample shown, by three teeth 36, and which meshes with a rack 37, alsodefined by three teeth 38 and formed in an intermediate portion of anend edge 39, adjacent to shell 13, of a relative lateral wall 18 ofslide 16.

To couple connectors 2 and 3, lever 30 is rotated, by pushing crossmember 34 towards end wall 17 of slide 16 (anticlockwise in FIG. 1),from a raised position (FIG. 1) corresponding to a predeterminedwithdrawal of slide 16 from casing 4, to a first lowered closed positionon casing 4 corresponding to full insertion or full assembly of lateralwalls 18 of slide 16 inside casing 4, and a final coupled position ofconnectors 2 and 3.

Connector 2 also comprises first and second releasable one-way retainingmeans 40, 41 interposed between slide 16 and main body 6, and acting inopposite ways in direction B to retain slide 16 in a first partlyassembled position in which it is withdrawn from casing 4 to receiveconnector 3 and lever 30 in the raised position (FIG. 1).

With reference to FIGS. 1, 5 and 7, one-way retaining means 40 comprisetwo elastically flexible lances 42 projecting integrally from respectivelateral walls 11 of main body 6 of casing 4, and having respective endteeth 43 engaging openings 29 in relative lateral walls 18 of slide 16and, therefore, inlet portions 25 of intermediate grooves 22 of slide16.

Lances 42 project inwards of main body 6 to prevent, by means of teeth43, further insertion of slide 16 inside main body 6 (FIG. 7), and, whenconnector 3 is inserted correctly inside the seat on connector 2, can beset to a flexed release configuration to release openings 29 and allowslide 16 to be moved in direction B into the fully assembled positioned.

More specifically, each lance 42 is defined by a substantiallyrectangular strip of material only joined to respective lateral wall 11along the end edge facing respective end portion 12, and engaging arespective through opening 44 formed in lateral wall 11.

Each lance 42 is set to the flexed configuration by interaction with thepin 23 on connector 3 engaging the relative intermediate groove 22 onslide 16.

Teeth 43 are formed on the free ends of respective lances 42, and have,facing end portions 12 of lateral walls 11, straight rear edges 45perpendicular to direction B, and, on the opposite side, contoured frontedges 46. More specifically, as of the surface of relative lance 42facing outwards of main body 6, edge 46 of each tooth 43 is defined by astraight first portion 47 parallel to edge 45, and by an oblique secondportion 48 defining a section of tooth 43 increasing towards edge 45.

Openings 29 (FIGS. 4 and 7) are defined, towards end wall 17 of slide16, by straight edges 49 perpendicular to direction B, and, on theopposite side, by ramp-shaped edges 50 for easing lateral walls 18 ofslide 16 along teeth 43 into the fully assembled position when lances 42are in the flexed configuration.

More specifically, when each lance 42 is in the nonflexed configuration(FIG. 7), portion 47 of edge 46 of relative tooth 43 cooperates withedge 49 of opening 29 of relative lateral wall 18 of slide 16 to preventslide 16 from moving into the fully assembled position; and, conversely,when lances 42 are in the flexed configuration, each opening 29 isengaged by the part of relative tooth 43 defined by oblique portion 48of edge 46, to enable slide 16 to move into the fully assembled positioninside main body 6 of casing 4.

Once inserted inside inlet portions 25 of relative intermediate grooves22, pins 23 act on teeth 43 of relative lances 42 to rotate lances 42outwards of casing 4 and so release from openings 29 the parts of teeth43 defined by portions 47 of edges 46.

To assist flexing of lances 42 by pins 23 on connector 3, teeth 43 aredefined, towards pins 23, by diverging oblique surfaces 51.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, one-way lances 52 projectingintegrally from a wall 54 of main body 6, from which shell 13 extends,located on opposite sides of shell 13, and having respective end teeth55 which click inside respective seats 56 formed in edges 39 of lateralwalls 18 of slide 16 to prevent withdrawal of slide 16 from main body 6.

More specifically, each seat 56 (FIG. 3) is defined, towards end wall17, by a ramp-shaped edge 57 for enabling relative lateral wall 18 ofslide 16 to slide in direction B along tooth 55 of relative lance 52into the fully assembled position, and, on the opposite side, by astraight edge 58 perpendicular to direction B and for preventingwithdrawal of slide 16 from main body 6.

Each tooth 55 is defined by a straight edge 59 perpendicular todirection B and which cooperates with edge 58 of relative seat 56, andby a slightly oblique opposite edge 60 which cooperates with edge 57 ofseat 56.

The fully assembled position of slide 16 is defined by cross member 34of lever 30 clicking on to a releasable retaining member 61—in theexample shown, an elastically flexible lance similar to lances 42 and52—extending integrally from the opposite side of shell 13 to thatconnected to main body 6.

Lever 30 may advantageously be rotated about axis C from the raisedposition to a second closed or deactivated position on casing 4 (FIG.5), in which it is retained between end portions 12 of lateral walls 11of main body 6, and keeps slide 16 in a second partly assembled positionor a position of maximum withdrawal from casing 4.

More specifically, end portion 32 of each arm 31 of lever 30 has afurther tooth 62 which, in the second closed position of lever 30,defines an additional stop preventing slide 16 from moving in directionB into the fully assembled position. On end portion 32 of each arm 31 oflever 30, a cylindrical free portion 63 is formed between tooth 62 andsector gear 35 to permit disconnection of lever 30 and slide 16 whenlever 30 is rotated from the raised position to the second closedposition.

Each tooth 62 has a profile in the form of a right trapezium, and isdefined, towards relative free portion 63, by a straight edge 64substantially radial with respect to axis C and which cooperates with acorresponding edge 65, perpendicular to direction B, of the end tooth 38of relative rack 37 located close to the free end of relative lateralwall 18 of slide 16.

The second closed position of lever 30 on casing 4 is defined by twopins 66, projecting laterally from opposite sides of cross member 34,clicking on to respective projections 67 formed on end portions 12 oflateral walls 11 of main body 6.

More specifically, projections 67 are positioned facing each other, andare formed close to respective edges of end portions 12 of lateral walls11 adjacent to shell 13. End portions 12 of lateral walls 11 flexslightly when pins 66 engage respective projections 67.

Each projection 67 (FIG. 2) has a substantiallyisosceles-triangle-shaped profile to permit engagement and release byrelative pin 66 of lever 30.

In the second closed position of lever 30, lances 52 engage respectiveseats 68 formed on edges 39 of lateral walls 18 of slide 16, betweenseats 56 and the free ends of lateral walls 18. Lances 52 may thereforeassume a first configuration (FIG. 3) engaging seats 56 to define,together with lances 42, the first partly assembled position of slide 16and, therefore, the raised position of lever 30; and a secondconfiguration (FIG. 6) engaging seats 68 to define, together with teeth62, the second partly assembled position of slide 16 and, therefore, thesecond closed position of lever 30.

The first partly assembled position of slide 16 is therefore locatedbetween the fully assembled position and the second partly assembledposition, and adjacent to the second partly assembled position.

As shown clearly in FIG. 6, seats 68 are the same shape as and smallerin direction B than seats 56. More specifically, each seat 68 isdefined, towards the free end of relative lateral wall 18, by a straightedge 69 perpendicular to direction B, and, on the opposite side, by anoblique edge 70 sloping, with respect to-direction B, more steeply thanedges 57 of seats 56.

Connector 2 is supplied in a deactivated or transit configuration (FIG.5) in which lever 30 is set to the second closed position on casing 4,and keeps slide 16 in the second partly assembled position or maximumwithdrawal position from casing 4.

In this configuration, teeth 62 of arms 31 of lever 30 define stopsurfaces for edges 65 of the relative end teeth 38 of racks 37 of slide16, to prevent slide 16 from moving inwards of main body 6 of casing 4in direction B; and teeth 55 of lances 52 engage respective seats 68 onlateral walls 18 of slide 16 to prevent further withdrawal of slide 16from casing 4.

To assemble unit 1, lever 30 must be rotated about axis C from thesecond closed position to the raised position. When so doing, the freeportions 63 of end portions 32 of arms 31 rotate freely with nointerference with racks 37 of slide 16 until the first tooth 36 of eachsector gear 35 meshes with the first two teeth 38 of rack 37, thusmoving slide 16 slightly inwards of main body 6 in direction B.

That is, by virtue of the thrust exerted on slide 16 by lever, and themutual cooperation of oblique edges 60 and 70, teeth 55 of lances 52 arereleased from respective seats 68 on lateral walls 18 of slide 16, andclick into the adjacent seats 56.

Slide 16 is thus set to the first partly assembled position, in which itis prevented by lances 42 from moving inwards of main body 6, and isprevented by the retaining action of lances 52 from being withdrawn frommain body 6.

Lances 42 can only be released from openings 29 in lateral walls 18 ofslide 16, and therefore slide 16 fully inserted inside main body 6, bypins 23 on connector 3 correctly engaging relative grooves 22 of slide16.

More specifically, to fully assemble unit 1, connectors 2 and 3 areengaged in direction A so that pins 23 engage inlet portions 25 ofrelative grooves 22.

At this stage, the intermediate pins 23 on connector 3 exert thrust onoblique surfaces 51 of teeth 43 of respective lances 42 to rotate lances42 outwards of main body 6.

As a result, each tooth 43 is positioned with the part defined bystraight portion 47 of edge 46 outside respective opening 29, and withthe part defined by oblique portion 48 engaging opening 29, so as toallow slide 16 to slide inside main body 6 of case 4 into the fullyassembled position.

At this point, lever 30 can be rotated from the raised position in FIG.1 to the first lowered closed position, thus moving slide 16 by toothedsector 35 engaging rack 37.

As slide 16 is fully inserted inside main body 6, pins 23 slide alongoblique intermediate portions 26 of relative grooves 22 to coupleconnectors 2 and 3 in direction A; and the movement of slide 16 iscompleted by cross member 34 of lever 30 clicking on to retaining member61, which corresponds to the final coupled position of connectors 2 and3.

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of an electric plug connector inaccordance with the present invention and indicated as a whole by 2′. Inthe following description, connector 2′ is only described insofar as itdiffers from connector 2, and using the same reference numbers for partsidentical with or corresponding to those already described.

Connector 2′ (FIGS. 8 to 10) differs from connector 2 by one-wayretaining means 40 comprising, in place of lances 42, two elasticallyflexible members 71, which project from respective lateral walls 18 ofslide 16, engage respective through openings 72 in lateral walls 11 ofmain body 6, and, when connector 3 is inserted correctly inside the seaton connector 2, are set to a flexed configuration releasing openings 72and allowing slide 16 to move into the fully assembled position indirection B.

More specifically, each elastically flexible member 71 engages throughopening 29 in relative lateral wall 18 of slide 16, and is moved intothe flexed configuration by interaction with relative pin 23.

More specifically, each elastically flexible member 71 comprises anintermediate portion 73 connected to relative lateral wall 18 of slide16 by an elastic hinge 74, and extending though opening 29 in relativelateral wall 18; a first end portion 75 engaging opening 72 in relativelateral wall 11 of main body 6; and an opposite second end portion 76projecting inside inlet portion 25 of relative groove 22.

In the example shown, each elastic hinge 74 is defined by a pin made ofplastic material, having an axis parallel to direction B, and fixed atthe ends to opposite lateral edges of opening 29 of relative groove 22.

Once inserted inside inlet portions 25 of relative intermediate grooves22, pins 23 act on end portions 76 of relative elastically flexiblemembers 71 to rotate the elastically flexible members about hinges 74and so release end portions 75 of elastically flexible members 71 fromopenings 72 in main body 6 of casing 4.

Connector 2′ also differs from connector 2 by the fully assembledposition of slide 16 being defined by end portions 75 of elasticallyflexible members 71 clicking inside respective through openings 77formed in lateral walls 11 of main body 6 and spaced apart from relativeopenings 72.

Connector 2′ also differs from connector 2 by the second closed positionof lever 30 on casing 4 being defined by pins 66 engaging respectiveU-shaped recesses 78 formed on the edges of end portions 12 of lateralwalls 11 adjacent to shell 13.

Connector 2′ is fitted to connector 3 in exactly the same way asdescribed with reference to connector 2.

The only substantial difference lies in the way in which pins 23 act onelastically flexible members 71. More specifically, when inserted insideinlet portions 25 of relative grooves 22, the intermediate pins 23 onconnector 3 exert thrust on end portions 76 of respective elasticallyflexible members 71 to rotate the elastically flexible membersclockwise, in FIG. 10, about hinges 74.

As a result, end portion 75 of each elastically flexible member 71 isreleased from relative opening 72 in main body 6 of casing 4 to allowslide 16 to slide in direction B and, therefore, operation of lever 30to couple connectors 2 and 3.

The movement of slide 16 is completed by end portions 75 of elasticallyflexible members 71 clicking inside respective openings 77 in main body6, which corresponds to the final coupled position of connectors 2 and3.

The advantages of connectors 2 and 2′ in accordance with the teachingsof the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.

In particular, by virtue of the retaining action of one-way retainingmeans 40, slide 16 can only be moved inwards of main body 6 of casing 4by lances 42 or elastically flexible members 71 interacting with pins 23correctly inserted inside inlets 25 of relative grooves 22.

In the second closed position of lever 30, teeth 62 define additionalstop surfaces for slide 16 in the insertion direction inside main body 6of casing 4, thus preventing any movement of slide 16 in the event ofimpact or other accidental causes. Moreover, retention of lever 30 inthe second closed position on casing 4 by pins 66 engaging end portions12 of lateral walls 11 of main body 6 ensures firm retention of thewhole defined by lever 30 and slide 16.

Nor does increasing the retaining load on slide 16 in the second partlyassembled position increase the manual effort required on lever 30 tocouple connectors 2 and 3, in that, before coupling can commence, lever30 must first be reset to the raised position engaging slide 16.

Free portions 63 on end portions 32 of arms 31 of lever 30 provide fordisconnecting lever 30 and slide 16, which, in addition to moving lever30 between the raised and second closed positions without interactingwith slide 16 so as to limit the displacement thereof between the firstand second partly assembled position, can also be used to insert slide16 inside casing 4 after assembling lever 30.

Finally, by virtue of the combined action of one-way retaining means 40and 41, lever 30, together with slide 16, can be set to a preciseposition (FIG. 1) to receive connector 3.

Clearly, changes may be made to connectors 2, 2′ as described andillustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

1) An electric connector (2,2′) comprising an insulating casing (4)defining a number of cavities for housing respective electric terminalsand having axes parallel to a first direction (a) in which saidconnector (2,2′) is coupled to a complementary connector (3); a slide(16) fitted to said casing (4) to slide in a second direction (b)perpendicular to said first direction (a), and having cam-type firstengaging members (22) for receiving respective second engaging members(23) on said complementary connector (3) to produce a relative couplingmovement of said connectors (2,2′; 3) in said first direction (a) whensaid slide (16) is moved in said second direction (b) into a fullyassembled position with respect to said casing (4); and releasableconstraint means (40,41,62) for keeping said slide (16) partly connectedto said casing (4); characterized in that said releasable constraintmeans comprise retaining means (40, 41,62) for locking said slide (16)to said casing (4); said retaining means (40,41,62) being selectivelydeactivated when coupling said connector (2,2′) to said complementaryconnector (3). 2) A connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized bycomprising an actuating lever (30) connected movably to said casing (4)to move said slide (16) into said fully assembled position. 3) Aconnector as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said lever (30)comprises at least one hinge portion (32) hinging it to said casing (4)about an axis (C) perpendicular to said first and said second direction(A, B); and in that said hinge portion (32) comprises, with reference tosaid axis (C), an angular coupling portion (35) for engaging said slide(16), and a free angular portion (63) for releasing the slide (16). 4) Aconnector as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said couplingportion of said hinge portion (32) of said lever (30) comprises a sectorgear (35) meshing with a rack (37) on said slide (16); and in that saidfree portion (63) of said hinge portion (32) of said lever (30) ismovable clear of the profile of said rack (37) on said slide (16). 5) Aconnector as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said retainingmeans comprise releasable one-way stop means (62) acting on said slide(16) to prevent the slide (16) from moving into said fully assembledposition, and defined by said lever (30) in a deactivated position. 6) Aconnector as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said stop meanscomprise a stop tooth (62) projecting radially from said hinge portion(32) of said lever (30), and defining a stop surface for said rack (37)on said slide (16) when said lever (30) is in said deactivated position;and in that said free portion (63) of said hinge portion (32) of saidlever (30) is defined on opposite sides by said sector gear (35) andsaid stop tooth (62). 7) A connector as claimed in claim 4,characterized in that said sector gear (35) meshes with said rack (37)as said lever (30) is rotated between a first and a second operatingposition corresponding respectively to a first partly assembled positionof said slide (16) with respect to said casing (4) and to said fullyassembled position; and in that said free portion (63) passes clear ofsaid rack (37) as said lever (30) is rotated between said firstoperating position and said deactivated position. 8) A connector asclaimed in claim 7, characterized by comprising rigid connecting means(66,67,78) for rigidly connecting said lever (30) to said casing (4) insaid deactivated position; said rigid connecting means (66,67,78) beingselectively releasable to move said lever (30) into said first operatingposition. 9) A connector as claimed in claim 8, characterized in thatsaid rigid connecting means comprise fastening means (66,67,78) forfastening said lever [(30)] to said casing (4). 10) A connector asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in that said retaining means compriseelastically flexible one-way locking means (40) which interfere with thesliding movement of said slide (16) into said fully assembled position,and which are set by correct engagement of said first and said secondengaging members (22,23) to a deformed, configuration allowing saidslide (16) to move into said fully assembled position. 11) A connectoras claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said first engagingmembers comprise a number of cam grooves (22) formed on said slide (16);and in that said locking means (40) extend through at least one of saidgrooves (22), and are set to said deformed configuration by interactingwith a relative one of said second engaging members (23) on saidcomplementary connector (3) engaging said one of said grooves (22). 12)A connector as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said lockingmeans (40) comprise at least one elastically flexible member (42,71),which is carried by one of said casing (4) and said slide (16), has aninterference portion (43,75) interfering with the other of said casing(4) and said slide (16), and is activated by a relative one of saidsecond engaging members (23) on said complementary connector (3)engaging said one of said grooves (22). 13) A connector as claimed inclaim 12, characterized in that said elastically flexible member (42)projects from a wall (11) of said casing (4), and comprises an end tooth(43) defining said interference portion, and which engages an inletportion (25) of said one of said grooves (22), and is released from saidinlet portion (25) by interacting with the relative one of said secondengaging members (23) engaging said one of said grooves (22). 14) Aconnector as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that said elasticallyflexible member (71) projects from said slide (16), cooperates with aninteracting portion (72) of said casing (4) to prevent said slide (16)from moving into said fully assembled position, and is releasable fromsaid interacting portion (72) in said deformed configuration. 15) Aconnector as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that said interactingportion is defined by a through opening (72) formed in said casing (4)and engaged by said elastically flexible member (71). 16) A connector asclaimed in claim 15, characterized in that said elastically flexiblemember (71) comprises an intermediate portion (73) connected to saidslide (16) by an elastic hinge (74); a first end portion (75) engagingsaid opening (72) in said casing (4); and an opposite second end portion(76) which projects through an inlet portion (25) of said one of saidgrooves (22). 17) A connector as claimed in claim 10, characterized inthat said retaining means comprise second releasable one-way lockingmeans (41) exerting on said slide (16) retaining forces opposite thoseexerted by said stop means (62) and said locking means (40), to preventwithdrawal of the slide (16) from said casing (4). 18) A connector asclaimed in claim 17, characterized in that said second locking means(41) can be set to a first and a second operating configuration; saidsecond locking means (41), in said first operating configuration, andsaid locking means (40) temporarily retaining said slide (16) in saidfirst partly assembled position and said lever (30) in said firstoperating position; said second locking means (41), in said secondoperating configuration, and said stop means (62) temporarily retainingsaid slide (16) in a second partly assembled position with respect tosaid casing (4) corresponding to said deactivated position of said lever(30); and said first partly assembled position of said slide (16) beinga position interposed, in said second direction (B), between said secondpartly assembled position and said fully assembled position. 19) Aconnector as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that said secondlocking means comprise at least one elastic lance (52) carried by one ofsaid casing (4) and said slide (16); and two seats (56,68) formed on theother of said casing (4) and said slide (16), and which are locatedsuccessively in said second direction (B), and are engaged by said lance(52) to respectively define said first and second partly assembledposition of said slide (16). 20) A connector as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that said retaining means (40, 41, 62) define a firstand a second partly assembled position of said slide (16) with respectto said casing (4); said first partly assembled position of said slide(16) being a position interposed, in said second direction (B), betweensaid second partly assembled position and said fully assembled position.